Looking back before moving forward (DW#521)
Philosopher Seren Kierkegaard said that we live forward but we understand backward. These simple words make so much sense: very often we do not gain understanding of a situation or of our actions until they are in the past. It is only once we see the impact of our actions (both positive and negative) that we gain a perception of whether our decisions were sound. We can see this both in our personal and professional lives.
Sometimes the impact is so significant that we cannot move forward and we get stuck. We may keep ruminating about our decisions and wish that we had done more to get greater success (if the impact is positive) or, more likely, wish that we had made better choices, if the impact is negative.
While wishing that we had made better choices is not helpful, it can be hugely beneficial to confront our choices, reflect on their impact and learn lessons from them. It is only by being brave enough to engage in this process can we move powerfully into our future. Those who don’t learn from their past, as it is wisely said, are condemned to repeat it.
The new year lies before us with promise and possibility. We have about 351 days ahead left in 2019 to live intentionally and on purpose. In order to do that well, we must deal with the baggage that we might have brought with us from years gone by.
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